One year later...
In the depths of the Holy Cathedral, at the heart of the Holy Place, the atmosphere was thick with silence and Arcane mana. The vast circular hall was illuminated by tall windows with colored stained glass that filtered a soft golden light. White marble columns rose up to a vault adorned with ancient frescoes depicting the founding saints. At the center of this sacred room, a slightly elevated platform held an imposing chair hidden behind a translucent white veil.
Behind this veil, Her Holiness Siel sat upright and motionless. Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders with an almost unreal shine. Her skin, of a perfect pallor like fine porcelain, contrasted with the immaculate saint’s robe she wore, a fluid garnt with delicate embroidery that highlighted her graceful silhouette. A black blindfold covered her eyes, yet her face remained neutral, imbued with a serenity that commanded respect. To her right stood her faithful paladin, Julius Dantalion. The man was imposing, dressed in a light armor with silver reflections. He kept his hands joined in front of him, his gaze vigilant.
Facing them, a relaxed silhouette sat in a chair and lit a cigarette. The fla of the lighter briefly illuminated his face with its marked features. He took a long drag, then slowly exhaled the smoke that rose in light wisps into the pure air of the cathedral.
"What honor do I owe to be summoned by Her Holiness herself," he asked in a nonchalant voice, without standing up.
Julius reacted imdiately, his deep voice resonating in the hall:
"Mister Konstantine, show so restraint in the presence of Her Holiness!"
Siel raised a fine and pale hand to calm her paladin. The gesture was calm, almost imperceptible, but enough for Julius to fall silent imdiately and resu his rigid posture. A slight smile appeared on Siel’s lips.
"I have heard about your exploits," she said in a soft and lodious voice that nevertheless carried clearly throughout the entire room. "I would like to have a glimpse of your powers, if you don’t mind?"
Klein remained silent for a mont, then replied in the sa detached tone:
"And why would I do that?"
Siel smiled more openly. She stood up with natural grace, went around the white veil and slowly approached Klein.
"An Art that exorcises demons that have no relation to Arcane magic is not sothing you find every day..."
"And therefore?"
Her robe glided silently over the floor. She extended her hand, delicately took the cigarette between her slender fingers, and brought it to her lips. She took a long drag, held the smoke for a mont, then exhaled it with elegance. The sll of tobacco mixed with the discreet incense that already floated in the air.
"I think we have a lot to talk about, but for the mont we don’t have the ti," she declared while handing him back the cigarette.
Klein looked at her for a mont, surprised but amused. He took back the cigarette and took another drag before answering:
"Well then. So we’ll talk next ti?"
He stood up, adjusted his coat with a quick gesture, and headed toward the large door that led out of the Holy Place. His footsteps echoed in the silence. Julius followed him with his eyes, tense, ready to intervene at the slightest suspicious movent. Siel remained standing near the chair, her graceful silhouette cut by the light.
As Klein was about to cross the threshold, Siel’s voice rose again, clear and composed:
"Do you want to be able to use mana?"
Klein stopped and slowly turned his head, one eyebrow raised, waiting for the rest.
Siel took a few steps in his direction, her robe undulating slightly around her. Her voice remained calm, but each word carried a new gravity.
"I can help you beco a mage... A transcendent being even more powerful... So help kill Pandora."
The silence that followed these words seed to last an eternity. Klein remained motionless, the cigarette smoking between his fingers. He observed the saint with attention. Julius, for his part, did not move, but his right hand tightened slightly on the poml of his sword.
Siel continued, in a asured tone, as if she were stating a simple fact:
"You have already accomplished remarkable things, Mister Konstantine. Your current abilities are impressive, but limited. Mana opens doors that even you cannot yet imagine. Raw power is no longer enough against threats like Pandora. I possess the knowledge and rituals necessary to help you cross this threshold."
Klein exhaled the smoke slowly, then crushed the cigarette butt under his sole.
"And what makes you think I want to beco your tool?" he asked, his voice low but firm.
Siel tilted her head slightly.
"I am not asking you to be a tool. I am offering you an exchange. You gain power, and I gain a real chance to eliminate a threat that weighs on all of us. Pandora’s actions are becoming more and more audacious. You have already crossed her path, haven’t you? You know what I am talking about."
Julius intervened in a contained voice:
"Her Holiness is offering you a rare opportunity, Konstantine. Few n have received such a proposal directly from her."
Klein let out a small laugh.
"Have you read my future, Your Holiness?"
Siel replied without hesitation:
"Possible..."
Klein took a few steps in the hall, turning his back for a mont to the two figures. He ran a hand through his hair, thinking.
"Killing Pandora," he murmured to himself, before turning around. "It’s not a small matter. She is not the type to let herself be approached easily. And you, you stay here, protected by your walls and your paladins. What are you really risking in this story?"
Siel advanced one more step. Her presence seed to fill the space.
"More than you think. My position forces to act with caution, but that does not an I am safe."
A long silence settled. Julius observed the exchange without intervening, but his gaze passed regularly from one to the other. Klein finally nodded slowly, a half-smile reappearing on his face.
"We will et again soon, Your Holiness. Try not to smoke too many of my cigarettes while waiting." Then he left the room...
The door closed behind him with a dull sound. Silence fell again in the Holy Place. Julius turned toward Siel.
"Do you think he will accept, Your Holiness?"
Siel returned to sit behind the white veil, her silhouette becoming once again a graceful and mysterious form.
"I have already seen him slice Pandora’s head in the past... He will do it again."
...
The air of Tenebris was saturated with a cold so intense that it instantly crystallized water.
The Holy Cathedral, spiritual pillar of the Empire of Alexandria, had officially decreed the launch of a large-scale crusade against the occult organization The Spectrum.
Her Holiness Siel had given her final approval because the ranks of paladins and priests were completely overwheld by an unprecedented epidemic of demonic possessions across the entire human continent. For the first ti, all the major factions of the Sky City Academy and the great lineages had been gathered to eradicate this threat, even if there were clearly tensions between them.
A new faction had also made its official entry for a year: the Arcadia faction, led by Loran of the Kitsunes. This presence marked a historic turning point in the integration of demi-beasts into the world’s power structures. Many rcenaries, renowned professors like Seraphina of the Lake or rlin of the Vulcan, elite students and even the vice-director Amaera Castillon completed this impressive picture of military power.
Director Daeron Akhazel finally stepped forward onto the frozen platform, leaning on his cane with a red crystal poml.
His warm smile, which usually inspired confidence, seed almost out of place in this hostile environnt.
"The Holy Cathedral thanks you for coming of your own free will for this sacred mission," he declared in a voice that carried despite the howling wind. He paused, sweeping the assembly with his red eyes before continuing in a more serious tone.
"I myself will not be fit to lead this expedition which aims to permanently destroy The Spectrum," he began, feigning modesty.
"I think soone else is much more suited for this mission. A young man endowed with the innate faculty to destroy these vile demons, who has proven himself for a few years and has beco a precious friend of our Holy Cathedral. Please welco the one whom so already call The Mystical Exorcist."
A silhouette then erged from the shadow of a tent. His long silver hair, whose shade recalled that of the first emperor Sulyvhan, fell in cascades over his shoulders, identical to his long leather coat with runic patterns.
Upon seeing him, the young playboy Sierra blushed and turned his head to the side.
He advanced with nonchalance, a lit cigarette at the corner of his lips, exhaling gray smoke that blended with the mist of Tenebris. His gaze, a clear gray of icy coldness, scanned the ranks of the factions with casual arrogance.
"Wow, is he this famous Exorcist?"
"I thought he was older!" comnted a young girl.
"He is so handso with his nonchalant aura..." added another, blushing.
After all, the rumors about him were varied, capable of inspiring fear at the re ntion of his na. It was said that the re ntion of his na gave fear to possessed people.
His legend had even reached the deepest parts of hell.
"No need to address with nicknas," he declared in a drawling voice that cut off the last whispers.
"My wife Walpurga doesn’t like this kind of pompous and ridiculous nas that only serve to flatter the ego of fools."
He stopped at the center of the assembly, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"Address as Klein... Klein Konstantine."
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